Summary: Paul teache in 1 Co 12:12-26 that we are all part of the body of Christ and the body must be Inclusive, and that each part is Important, Interdependent and Interconnect to each other.

Intro: In the comic strip Peanuts, Charles Shultz created many memorable characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and many more. One of the cartoons featured Lucy and Linus. It shows Linus sitting around watching TV and Lucy comes in and sits down then looks at Linus and says that he needs to turn the TV channel. Linus looks at her and says, “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?”

“These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.”

“Which channel do you want?” asks Linus.

Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?”

. Our scripture today speaks of how God has chosen to assemble His Church.

. Paul writes that we are to work together as a unit. How we are stronger collectively than we are individually.

. Much like Linus and Lucy, when we all work together we accomplish what God calls us to do.

. Paul uses an analogy here in comparing the church to a human body to show how we are to work together and how we cannot function without all the parts that make up the body.

. 12The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.13Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been ibaptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

14Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.15If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body.16And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?17If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

18But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.19How strange a body would be if it had only one part!20Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.21The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

22In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.23And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,24while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.25This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.26If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

27All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.